Stop handing out 50% equity like it's candy.
You meet a co-founder. You vibe. You split 50-50. That's not a partnership. You just avoid conflict.
You are scared to value your contribution. You default to "fair."
Reality check 6 months later: The spark dies. They quiet quit. But they keep half the company.
You are now uninvestable. Investors won't touch a cap table with 50% dead weight.
Protect yourself. Do this instead:
Phase 1: 3-month trial on contractor agreement. Cash stipend or market rate. Strict IP clause. Zero equity signed.
Phase 2: Trigger: deliverables completed. Issue RSPA with repurchase rights (reverse vesting) at $0.0001/share. 6-month cliff. Front-loaded 4-year vesting (35% month 6). Backdated to day 1.
This is the new competitive standard to attract serious CTOs.
Alternative: Consider a milestone-based unlock for the first 35% instead.
Fairness isn't 50-50. Fairness is equity matching execution.
You're not here to build an expensive charity.